US6253891B1 - Removable wheel system - Google Patents
Removable wheel system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US6253891B1 US6253891B1 US09/375,058 US37505899A US6253891B1 US 6253891 B1 US6253891 B1 US 6253891B1 US 37505899 A US37505899 A US 37505899A US 6253891 B1 US6253891 B1 US 6253891B1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- wheel
- support
- housing
- tongue
- luggage
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000000712 assembly Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000429 assembly Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007547 defect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001066 destructive effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005096 rolling process Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
- A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
- A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
- A45C5/14—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with built-in rolling means
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a wheel unit for an article of luggage, and, more particularly, to a wheel unit which includes a wheel housing, a wheel support releasably connectable thereto, and a wheel rotatably connected to the wheel support.
- the wheel support and wheel may be quickly and easily disconnected from the wheel housing to permit replacement of the wheel when damaged.
- the wheel unit of the present invention includes a wheel housing attached to or integrally formed with a suitcase, which preferably defines an inner wheel well which is at least partially recessed within the article of luggage, a wheel support member defining a corresponding outer wheel well adapted to fit within the inner wheel well, and a wheel and axle suspended on the wheel support.
- the wheel support attaches to the wheel housing plate by a screw or other removable fastener passed through the rear wall of the wheel housing and a tongue and slot arrangement defined by the wheel housing and wheel support, respectively.
- the slot may be defined by the wheel housing and the tongue defined by the wheel support.
- the wheel becomes damaged or otherwise needs replacing, it can be removed by removing the fastener using a simple screwdriver in the case where the fastener is a screw, disengaging the tongue from the slot, removing the wheel support completely from the wheel housing, and either replacing the wheel in the existing wheel support or replacing the wheel support and wheel/axle assembly entirely.
- FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the wheel assembly in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 1A is an exploded perspective view of a slightly modified version of the wheel assembly of FIG. 1 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the wheel assembly in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an alternative embodiment in accordance with the invention.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment of the invention.
- an improved luggage wheel assembly 10 which includes a wheel housing 15 having multiple apertures 20 through which fasteners may be passed to attach housing 15 to the lower edge L of an article of luggage 11 (shown in phantom).
- Housing 15 is comprised of vertical sidewall 17 and rear wall 18 and a horizontal bottom wall 19 .
- Housing 15 defines a wheel well or chamber in the form of depression 25 , a fastener-receiving bore 30 disposed adjacent to the upper portion of chamber 25 , and a hollow sleeve 35 on bottom wall 19 which defines a slot 40 .
- Side wall 18 of plate 15 may constitute a portion of the side of the luggage article 11 near lower edge L of the article 11 .
- rear wall 17 and bottom wall 19 may make up a portion of the rear and bottom walls, respectively, of the luggage article 11 .
- the invention is not intended to be limited to that configuration. All that is needed is a mounting structure to which the removable wheel housing and wheel can be mounted. Therefore, as seen in FIG. 5, the wheel wall depression 25 may be an integral component of the luggage article itself.
- Wheel 50 is mounted in a depression such as wheel well 46 defined by wheel support 45 on an axle 55 which is inserted into and suspended by axle holes 60 .
- Support 45 also defines a tongue 65 and a fastener hole 70 .
- Depression 46 conforms generally to depression 25 .
- the wheel support 45 is mounted in depression 25 by axially engaging tongue 65 into slot 40 and inserting a removable fastener 75 such as a screw through aligned fastener aperture 70 and bore 30 which is threaded if fastener 75 is threaded.
- a slot 66 may be defined by the wheel support 45 and a tongue 36 may be defined by the wheel housing 15 , wherein the slot 36 and tongue 66 axially engage and disengage in a similar fashion as the slot 40 and tongue 65 of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a cross-section showing wheel support 45 connected to wheel housing 15 , with tongue 65 engaged in groove 40 , and aperture 70 aligned with bore 30 .
- a threaded sleeve 31 preferably of metal or other durable material, may be inserted into bore 30 so as to insure that fastener 75 will not degrade the threads, such as by stripping them.
- Rear wall 17 may include a raised rib 21 which defines a lower curved face 49 .
- a correspondingly shaped upper face 47 defined by support 45 mates with face 49 , which acts as an attaching formation to assist in the centering of apertures 30 and 70 when mounting support 45 to housing 15 , in addition to providing lateral and vertical strength to the connection.
- Rib 21 acts as a contact surface to assist in dragging the luggage article up curbs and the like.
- Housing 15 and support 45 may be constructed of any suitable material such as high-impact plastic or metal.
- FIGS. 4 and 5 show a slightly modified version of the invention wherein sleeve 35 is replaced by a recess 90 defined by lower wall 19 of housing 15 .
- the recess preferably corresponds in its inner contour to the outer shape of tongue 65 , which may be square, rounded or any other shape.
- a fastener such as screw 95 may be passed through a corresponding bore 91 defined by tongue 65 which aligns with a threaded bore 94 defined by lower wall 19 of housing 15 .
- a metal insert such as internally threaded metal sleeve 93 may be utilized.
Landscapes
- Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims (25)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/375,058 US6253891B1 (en) | 1999-08-16 | 1999-08-16 | Removable wheel system |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/375,058 US6253891B1 (en) | 1999-08-16 | 1999-08-16 | Removable wheel system |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US6253891B1 true US6253891B1 (en) | 2001-07-03 |
Family
ID=23479324
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/375,058 Expired - Lifetime US6253891B1 (en) | 1999-08-16 | 1999-08-16 | Removable wheel system |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US6253891B1 (en) |
Cited By (9)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6315368B1 (en) * | 2000-06-21 | 2001-11-13 | Chaw Khong Technology Co., Ltd. | Replaceable shock-proof corner wheel of a trunk |
US6409283B1 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2002-06-25 | Yung-Shun Hsieh | Wheel assembly for a truck-attached carriage |
US20070137959A1 (en) * | 2005-12-05 | 2007-06-21 | Zauderer Karen B | Convertible luggage and a reversible panel therefor |
US20090321589A1 (en) * | 2008-06-25 | 2009-12-31 | Medline Industries, Inc. | Intravenous Fluid Container Stand And Methods For Making Same |
US7984797B1 (en) | 2010-10-08 | 2011-07-26 | Delsey Luggage, Inc. | Soft sided luggage case with independent wheel hub |
US20120285780A1 (en) * | 2011-05-11 | 2012-11-15 | Chen-Chuan Wu | Fast detachable side wheel device |
US20130081964A1 (en) * | 2006-02-23 | 2013-04-04 | Zinus Inc. | Mattress Transporting Roller Box |
WO2017163120A1 (en) * | 2016-03-23 | 2017-09-28 | Travel Light Ltd. | Luggage case with axle-less wheels |
US20190374028A1 (en) * | 2016-11-29 | 2019-12-12 | Ikea Supply Ag | Furniture panel assembly comprising a wheelhouse cassette, and a furniture comprising such furniture panel assembly |
Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4995487A (en) * | 1989-08-08 | 1991-02-26 | Plath Robert V | Wheeled suitcase and luggage support |
US5323886A (en) * | 1993-04-23 | 1994-06-28 | Chen Shou Mao | Suitcase |
US5499702A (en) * | 1994-10-07 | 1996-03-19 | Wang; King-Sheng | Retractable handle assembly |
US5524737A (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1996-06-11 | Wang; King-Sheng | Retractable handle and wheel assembly for travel bags |
US5575361A (en) * | 1995-02-06 | 1996-11-19 | Chou; Ming-Shi | Wheeled suitcase |
US5590748A (en) * | 1995-03-20 | 1997-01-07 | Chang; Jui M. | Collapsible handle for a wheeled suitcase |
US5873145A (en) * | 1997-11-13 | 1999-02-23 | Chou; Cheng-Tasn | Wheel assembly |
US5918710A (en) * | 1997-04-09 | 1999-07-06 | Sher; Yu-Yi | Do-it-yourself set for fastening a pull rod and casters with a luggage and the like |
-
1999
- 1999-08-16 US US09/375,058 patent/US6253891B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Patent Citations (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4995487A (en) * | 1989-08-08 | 1991-02-26 | Plath Robert V | Wheeled suitcase and luggage support |
US5323886A (en) * | 1993-04-23 | 1994-06-28 | Chen Shou Mao | Suitcase |
US5524737A (en) * | 1994-07-29 | 1996-06-11 | Wang; King-Sheng | Retractable handle and wheel assembly for travel bags |
US5499702A (en) * | 1994-10-07 | 1996-03-19 | Wang; King-Sheng | Retractable handle assembly |
US5575361A (en) * | 1995-02-06 | 1996-11-19 | Chou; Ming-Shi | Wheeled suitcase |
US5590748A (en) * | 1995-03-20 | 1997-01-07 | Chang; Jui M. | Collapsible handle for a wheeled suitcase |
US5918710A (en) * | 1997-04-09 | 1999-07-06 | Sher; Yu-Yi | Do-it-yourself set for fastening a pull rod and casters with a luggage and the like |
US5873145A (en) * | 1997-11-13 | 1999-02-23 | Chou; Cheng-Tasn | Wheel assembly |
Cited By (13)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6315368B1 (en) * | 2000-06-21 | 2001-11-13 | Chaw Khong Technology Co., Ltd. | Replaceable shock-proof corner wheel of a trunk |
US6409283B1 (en) * | 2001-03-02 | 2002-06-25 | Yung-Shun Hsieh | Wheel assembly for a truck-attached carriage |
US20070137959A1 (en) * | 2005-12-05 | 2007-06-21 | Zauderer Karen B | Convertible luggage and a reversible panel therefor |
US10479593B2 (en) * | 2006-02-23 | 2019-11-19 | Zinus Inc. | Mattress transporting roller box |
US20130081964A1 (en) * | 2006-02-23 | 2013-04-04 | Zinus Inc. | Mattress Transporting Roller Box |
US8313066B2 (en) | 2008-06-25 | 2012-11-20 | Medline Industries, Inc. | Intravenous fluid container stand and methods for making same |
US20090321589A1 (en) * | 2008-06-25 | 2009-12-31 | Medline Industries, Inc. | Intravenous Fluid Container Stand And Methods For Making Same |
US7984797B1 (en) | 2010-10-08 | 2011-07-26 | Delsey Luggage, Inc. | Soft sided luggage case with independent wheel hub |
US20120285780A1 (en) * | 2011-05-11 | 2012-11-15 | Chen-Chuan Wu | Fast detachable side wheel device |
US8783431B2 (en) * | 2011-05-11 | 2014-07-22 | Chen-Chuan Wu | Fast detachable side wheel device |
WO2017163120A1 (en) * | 2016-03-23 | 2017-09-28 | Travel Light Ltd. | Luggage case with axle-less wheels |
US20190374028A1 (en) * | 2016-11-29 | 2019-12-12 | Ikea Supply Ag | Furniture panel assembly comprising a wheelhouse cassette, and a furniture comprising such furniture panel assembly |
US11089871B2 (en) * | 2016-11-29 | 2021-08-17 | Ikea Supply Ag | Furniture panel assembly comprising a wheelhouse cassette, and a furniture comprising such furniture panel assembly |
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